Fruit-jar.



F. BRELLE. FRUIT JAR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22, 1912.

Patented 0013. 29, 1912.

FRANK BRELLE, 0F FEBNDALE, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-JAR.

Patented (lot. 29, 11%12.

Serial no. 672,628.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

IL,a2,39@

Application filed January 22, 1912.

cover to move toward the jar against the resistance of the gasket, which latter prevents any entrance 0 atmospheric air into the jar and consequently the-sealing is caused and maintained by atmospheric pressure, so that after the contents of the jar have cooled sufficiently, the holding device may be removed. The form of the gasket causes it to To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK. Bnnnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ferndale, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, have invented a new and useful Fruit-Jar, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in fruit and its object is to pro- Operate as 31 76115111011 fi' Sealing 55 vide a means for sealing the cover or cap to PF th y Preventmg breakage of the jar whereby the contents of the jar are 91131161 h 3 P s sealed against the action of the atmosphere The lnvenllon W be best understwd and so are preserved for an indefinite period. m a conldmtwn l following Th present m ti i an impmvement tailed descript on, taken in connection with 7o over the fruit jar shown in Letters-Patent the P P -Ym dmwmgs forming a P No. 983,423, granted to me on February 7, thls SPeCificfl-tmnp with h understanding, 1911.. however, that the invention is not confined ln accordance with the present invention to y stfict Conformity to the showing of there is pmviggd sap having a pgfiphefgui the drawings, but is susceptible of various seat adapted to an inner ledge such found l and modlficatlflns long as h (m some g i j, forms f e it, i and Sahent features of the invention are retainthere is also provided a sealing ring in the ed the P g re obtained. form of a tube which may be complete pen s g 1 15 a m f c ripherally but is incomplete as to its walls section in the direction or the length of a when considerec in cross section. The ring, l f m accordance Wlth which may be of any suitable shape in cross out inyentmn showing the cover slightly section, is hollow a portion thewalls raised from the 1 g- 2 1S a 8117011211 new all aroundthe ring is omitted so that when q l g h c vcr in place out not sealed pressure is brought to bear upon the ring (111d F g 11p also in place. Fig 3 is a it will collapse readily, the air escaping detall sactloll h gh a portlon of the 1211' "tom the interior of the ring through the n V I showlngthe position ofthe parts omitted portion or the walls thereof, and w heseallngus complete. Fig. 1s a the arrangement is such that when the cover 1 W mllar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a is and ressed wwn upon the IIlOdlfiCalllOn and Sl'lOWlIlg the cover and 9Q the latter will collapse to a flat condition. f the jar Separated.

In the use of the invention, the jaris filled Referring to the drawings, there is shown with the material to he preserved, the cover a portion of a fruit ar 1 which may be withthe ring carried thereby is placed upon ken as typlcal of any sultable form of the top or the jar lightly, and a holding def mt- 3 Whether of mg pe r of vice is applied to the jar and the too thereof special shape. In the form shown in Flgs. in a manner to prevent the top or the jar 1, 2 and 3 the mouth of the ar 1s formed. from moving away from the body of the with an inwardly directedannular ledge or jar, but at the same time the ring is under flange 2 located a short dlstance below the no material pressure and maintains to a margin o1 the mouth of the ar, which theregreat extent its original form. The confore upstandsi'rom the ledge or shoulder 2, tents of the jar are heated in the usual when the ar is on a level support, in the manner and any steam so formed finds esform of a marginal flange 3. Adapted to cape about the sealing ring or gasket, but the mouth of the a1' s a cover of a (iithe structure of the latter 18 such that any ameter to fit easily within the inner wall flow of air from the exterior of the jar to of the ledge 2, and this cover is formed the interior thereoi is prevented oy the with an outstanding marginal flange 5 sealing action of the gasket. When the adapted to the ledge 2 and of a radial. exheating is dscontinued and the contents of tent permitting it to move within the space 1w defined by the flange 3. There is provided a ring or gasket 6 usually of soft vulcanlzed rubber, but which may be made 01 any su1tto cool the external atmos because of the condensation n -1 a a 1 a y vapors within the ,ar, causes the the jar oegin no pressure,

able material, and this ring is a tubular ring ofany suitable cross sectional shape and.

engage the ledge 2.

Assuming that the jar 1 is filled with the material to be preserved, the cover 4 with the gasket 6 is applied to the mouth of the jar, so that the gasket will. rest on the ledge 2- and supportthe cover, and in order that the cover may not be forced from the jar during the subsequent operations, a clip comprising two hinged members 7, 8 each having hook shaped terminations '9 is applied to the jar with the hooks underriding the inset portions of the neck of the jar and the middle portion of, one'of the members, say the member 7 lightly engaging the center portion of the cover, the member 7 being appropriately bent for the purpose, but under these circumstances the ring or gasket 6 is not collapsed to any material extent. The jar is now subjected to the action of heat until the contents of the jar are suitably cooked, such operation producing more or less steam or vapor, which because of the collapsible nature of the gasket to forces applied in a certain direction find ready escape around the gasket between the cover 4 and the mouth of the jar. When the cooking is finished the interior of the jar above the heavier materials is occupied by vapor or steam which as the cooling progresses condenses, thereby producing a condition -of sub-atmospheric pressure within the jar, wherefore there is superior pressure exterior to the jar tending to force the atmospheric air into the jar, but the gasket being open toward the outside presents a wide surface subject to such. atmospheric pressure and the gasket is spread out against the margin of the cover 4 and the upper surface of the ledge 2 thereby sealing the jar against the entrance of atmospheric air. The superior pressure of the air upon the cover 4 forces the latter toward the mouth of the jar, thereby compressing the gasket, the air within the latter finding ready escape through the open portion of the ring or gasket to the atmosphere until finally the ring or gasket is flattened, as indicated in Fig. 3, when the entrance of air to the interior of the jar is effectually prevented, while the atmospheric pressure being considerably superior to the pressure Within the jar holds the cover firmly in'place and the broad surface presented by the gasket noeaeeo when flattened effectually seals the oint between the cover and ar against the entrance of atmospheric air for indefinite periods of time.

As soon as the contents of the jar have cooled sufiiclently to cause the seating of the cover against the gasket and the latter.

- portion of the gasket 6 and the cover 4: of

the jar is formed with a circumferential flange 5 and a marginal shoulder 11 to which is applied the gasket 6 and when suitable pressure is brought upon the cover the flange 5 will flatten out the ring or gasket 6 in a manner similar to the showing of Fig. 3 and the sealing of the jar is brought about in the same manner as before, the portion of the gasket on the jar 1 being forced into the groove 10 insuring the thorough sealing. However, form shown in Fig. 4-, a small tube 12 which allows escape of air or vapor through and around it while the cover is being closed onto the jar, this tube to be withdrawn after the cover has been positioned and nearly seated when the gasket will spring into .the space occupied by the tube and complete the sealing in-the manner described with reference to the other constructions. A knife blade or a piece of wire may be used in place of the tube as a temporary auxiliary venting means.

The tubular ring or gasket open alongone side throughout its length so that the walls of the ring are-incomplete in cross section presents a structure very readily manufactured, which will fit the shoulder at the periphery of the cover, and which will collapse against the ledge or seat at the mouth of-the jar, the air within the tubular gasket finding ready escape to the atmosphere while such a gasket does not in any manner interfere with the escape of steam or hot air from the jar and acts as a cushion during the cooling of the jar and the condensation of the steam therein, danger of breakage of either the jar or the cover. i

What is claimed is 1. A means for closing and sealing the mouths of jars, comprising a tubular gasket in the form ofa complete ring open along the side remote from the center of the ring throughout the circumference of said side, the tubular gasket being shaped to fold together along a substantially intermediate circumferential line on the side of the gasket toward the center and when so folded thus preventing there is employed in the thickness.

jar, and

a tubular gasket of elastic material adapted outstanding Loaaseo form with a ortion of its walls remote from the center 0% the gasket omitted throughout the circumference to form a vent toward the exterior of the jar, said gasket being adapted to the periphery of the cover to seat on the ledge of the jar between aid ledge and the outstanding flange o the cover an shaped to fold together upon a circumferential line intermediate of the edges of the walls defined by the omitted portion to form when so folded a ring-shaped gasket of double thickness.

constituting a ring shaped gasket of double 2. A jar of frangible material having a circumferential support at its mouth, a cover for the jar also of frangible material having a flange adapted to said support, and

the flange of the to be interposed cover and the support of the jar, said gasket circumference on being open throughout its that side' remote from the center of the between a collapsible tubusubstantially intermediate circumferential 4:. In a preserving jar,

line on the .side toward the center of the lar ring shaped gasket having a portion of gasket to form when so folded aring-shaped its walls omitted throughout the circumfergasket of double thickness. ential length of the ring, said omitted P01 tion comprising less than half the cross sectional extent of said walls.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK BRELLE.

preserving jar having at the motith end an inwardly directed ledge and a circumferential flange upstanding from the ledge exterior thereto, a cover member provided with a peripheral portion of an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the ledge and provided with an flange adapted to override the ledge within the upstanding flange of the a sealing ring or gasket of tubular Witnesses:

H. G. Evans, A. W. BLACKBURN. 

